Should you rake your leaves? What experts say about fall cleanup

Michigan's fall colors are a pretty sight, but as leaves start dropping to the ground, they suddenly become your next yard chore.

Recycling leaves, rather than raking them away, offers environmental benefits for your yard and can prevent them from being sent to a landfill, according to Michigan State University Extension.

However, if your fallen leaves are diseased , make sure to rake and dispose of them immediately so the disease doesn't spread to other trees, University of Wisconsin-Madison's Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension recommends.

Here's what to know about what to do with your fallen leaves.

Leaves often end up in landfills

There are pros and cons in making the annual choice to pick up the rake, Lou Meyer, a business developer for The Davey Tree Expert Compa